The capital’s most polluting buses are set to by upgraded in a programme which will cut harmful emissions by 95%.

More than half of London’s entire bus fleet is to be upgraded to meet the latest ultra-low Euro VI emissions standard, as part of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s plan to clean the city’s air.

Through the new £86.1m programme, around 5,000 buses will be retrofitted with a new exhaust system that will significantly cut emissions, meaning that by September 2020 the entire bus fleet will be at least Euro VI standard.

Transport for London (TfL) will work with bus operators and five chosen suppliers to install the new bespoke exhaust systems which will reduce nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Diesel Particulate filters will also be installed alongside this Selective Catalytic Reduction equipment to reduce air pollution.

Transport operators RATP Dev announced fully electric bus routes running through west London earlier this year (Image: UGC TMS)